STETSON by Janis Grove 7 April 1990 ------------------------------------------------ I have learned through a 1935 privately printed 13 pg booklet that the desc of Coronet Robert STETSON of Plymouth Colony formed a Mass Corp., Nov 13,1905, known as The STETSON Kindred of America. In 1935, this organiz. had over 700 members and estimated that there were 30,000 living desc.!! The Kindred owned the 46 1/4 acres of the old homestead in Nowell, formerly South Scituate, Plymouth Co., Mass and on those grounds had built a pavillion with a seating capacity of several hundred persons, in which the annual meetings were held. At that time, they were planning to begin publishing a quarterly genealogical and historical publications. The officers listed in the booklet would all be deceased by this time I am sure. They were all quite prominent men of their time. Our interest is that John's great gradnmother was a Sally E. STETSON, b. ca 1855 Kokomo, Howard Co., Ind d possibly 1923, Gobles, Van Buren Co., Mi. John's dad told us her father was a John B. STETSON. Thus far we have found nothing on either of them. I am currently checking the death records of Van Buren Co., Mi., but would hope that there is a connection to this organiz. Origin: ANCESTRY TBBS - Sebring, Fl - Only genealogy. 813-471-0552 466/625 11 Apr 90 07:42:53 From: Sandy Clunies To: Janis Grove Subj: STETSON Attr: ------------------------------------------------ Janis, the newest issue of "Genealogical Helper" lists known Family Associations, and the STETSON one is not listed. 40+ acres of land near Scituate MA today would be verrrrrrry valuable, so doubt that the Assoc. kept it as a summer campground! It's probably a development of $300,000 homes! Colket refers to a larger set of books, which he give 2-stars for exceptional quality, also called "Desc. of Cornet Robert STETSON" in 3 vols. 1933-1956. Perhaps you can locate them through the National Union Catalog and your nearest large library for Inter-Library Loan. BTW, a "Cornet" was a military title in colonial N.E. It's always so much more difficult to work forwards with a line. Keep working in Michigan on those death certificates (I've been waiting over 2 months for one from MI - am told they place genealogical requests at the very bottom of the pile in Michigan !). These may help you determine if Sally E. STETSON's father John B. STETSON was descended from an early New England immigrant (birthplace of HIS parents), or from a more recent immigrant. Have you searched the Indiana census records of 1840, 50, 60 ? The 1850 is indexed everywhere - of course, Sally wouldn't have been born yet - but see if John B. is there. Even with the viable active family associations of 1600's New England immigrants, it is very difficult to include the 1800's generations in them unless members of that branch of the family were themselves very involved in family research and kept up a correspondence with the main branch of the family. I have active contacts with several family associations for my history, and that has been my experience. IF the later generations remained in N.E., where they were known, they would usually be included in genealogies. But if they migrated West, as many families did, the Easterners lost touch with them. Most of these large family genealogies were written between 1850 and 1900. But the one to which Colket refers is much newer - and might possible help with 3 volumes. Good luck! ---Sandy --- msged 1.99S ZTC * Origin: GreyEagle_Point/346 <* Derwood, MD *> (1:109/312.346) 132/101 300/51